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^ THE GLASS FACTORY. ^
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,-»=^¤&### SEVERAL CENTURIES AFTER IT HAD LAST ###&¤^=»-,
,,-»=^¤&## BELONGED TO US, WE WENT ON AN OUTING TO ##&¤^=»-,,
,,,-»=^¤&# THE GLASS FACTORY THAT BORE OUR FAMILY #&¤^=»-,,,
,,,,-»=^¤& NAME. IT HAD CHANGED OWNERS MANY TIMES &¤^=»-,,,,
,,,,,-»=^¤ SINCE OUR ANCESTORS DEATH, AND THEN ¤^=»-,,,,,
,,,,,,-»=^ STOOD ABANDONED FOR A LONG WHILE. ^=»-,,,,,,
,,,,,,,-»= FINALLY, THE NATURAL END STATION FOR =»-,,,,,,,
,,,,,,,,-» THE BUILDINGS THAT SURVIVE: A MUSEUM, »-,,,,,,,,
,,,,,,,-»= AND A GIFT SHOP. =»-,,,,,,,
,,,,,,-»=^ ^=»-,,,,,,
,,,,,-»=^¤ THERE'S A LONG TIME SINCE MY FAMILY ¤^=»-,,,,,
,,,,-»=^¤& MADE ANYTHING. BY MANY, WE WOULD BE &¤^=»-,,,,
,,,-»=^¤&# CONSIDERED POOR. #&¤^=»-,,,
,,-»=^¤&## ##&¤^=»-,,
,-»=^¤&### THERE ARE TWO MAIN FACTORY BUILDINGS, ###&¤^=»-,
,,-»=^¤&## DOMED THINGS OF SEVERAL FLOORS, MADE IN ##&¤^=»-,,
,,,-»=^¤&# YELLOW BRICK. LARGE BUT NARROW WINDOWS, #&¤^=»-,,,
,,,,-»=^¤& REMINESCENT OF SOME CATHEDRAL. &¤^=»-,,,,
,,,,,-»=^¤ CUSTOM-MADE GLASS, OF COURSE, LARGE AND ¤^=»-,,,,,
,,,,,,-»=^ LEADED, AND ASHEN. A BIT TOO DARK TO BE ^=»-,,,,,,
,,,,,,,-»= PRACTICAL. ON THE EASTERN BUILDING, =»-,,,,,,,
,,,,,,,,-» SOME ARE SHATTERED. »-,,,,,,,,
,,,,,,,-»= =»-,,,,,,,
,,,,,,-»=^ THE OTHER ONE IS PUBLICLY OPEN. THERE'S ^=»-,,,,,,
,,,,,-»=^¤ A MUSEUM, WITH WAX FIGURES OF MY GREAT ¤^=»-,,,,,
,,,,-»=^¤& GREAT GREAT GRANDFATHER, OR SOMETHING. &¤^=»-,,,,
,,,-»=^¤&# VARIOUS TOOLS (OR REPLICAS) LAID OUT ON #&¤^=»-,,,
,,-»=^¤&## TABLES, WITH EXPLAINING TEXTS. A LOT OF ##&¤^=»-,,
,-»=^¤&### GLASS OF VARYING THICKNESS. ###&¤^=»-,
,,-»=^¤&## ##&¤^=»-,,
,,,-»=^¤&# ^^ #&¤^=»-,,,
,,,,-»=^¤& ^^ ^^ &¤^=»-,,,,
,,,,,-»=^¤ »»»»»»» ^ ^ »»»»»»» ¤^=»-,,,,,
,,,,,,-»=^ ^^ ^^ ^=»-,,,,,,
,,,,,,,-»= ^^ =»-,,,,,,,
,,,,,,,,-» »-,,,,,,,,
,,,,,,,-»= I QUICKLY SNEAK OUT, AND CLIMB INTO THE =»-,,,,,,,
,,,,,,-»=^ OTHER BUILDING. THE CONTRAST IS ^=»-,,,,,,
,,,,,-»=^¤ OVERWHELMING. IT MUST HAVE STOOD ¤^=»-,,,,,
,,,,-»=^¤& DERELICT FOR A LONG TIME, WINDOWS &¤^=»-,,,,
,,,-»=^¤&# BROKEN, METALLIC TRASH AND POOLS OF #&¤^=»-,,,
,,-»=^¤&## DARK GLASS ALL OVER THE FLOOR. NO ##&¤^=»-,,
,-»=^¤&### ELECTRIC LIGHTS, BUT I CAN SEE BY THE ###&¤^=»-,
,,-»=^¤&## LIGHT THAT SHINES IN WHEREVER THE DARK ##&¤^=»-,,
,,,-»=^¤&# WINDOWS ARE MISSING A PANE. #&¤^=»-,,,
,,,,-»=^¤& &¤^=»-,,,,
,,,,,-»=^¤ HOWEVER, THE GREATEST DIFFERENCE IS THE ¤^=»-,,,,,
,,,,,,-»=^ HIGHER FLOORS: THIS BUILDING HAS NONE. ^=»-,,,,,,
,,,,,,,-»= IT IS ONE MASSIVE HALL, STRETCHING AWAY =»-,,,,,,,
,,,,,,,,-» INFINITELY ABOVE ME. SOMEWHERE UP THERE »-,,,,,,,,
,,,,,,,-»= IS SOME GREAT IRON LATTICEWORK, FROM =»-,,,,,,,
,,,,,,-»=^ WHERE CHAINS ARE SUSPENDED, AND PARTS ^=»-,,,,,,
,,,,,-»=^¤ OF MACHINERY HAS BEEN FALLING DOWN. ¤^=»-,,,,,
,,,,-»=^¤& &¤^=»-,,,,
,,,-»=^¤&# THERE IS, IN THE MIDDLE OF THE GREAT #&¤^=»-,,,
,,-»=^¤&## HALL, A THIN SPIRAL STAIRCASE THAT ##&¤^=»-,,
,-»=^¤&### LEADS UP THERE. I SNEAK OVER THERE, AND ###&¤^=»-,
,,-»=^¤&## TAKE A FEW RELUCTANT STEPS. AFTER JUST ##&¤^=»-,,
,,,-»=^¤&# A REVOLUTION, I NOTICE THAT FOR EACH #&¤^=»-,,,
,,,,-»=^¤& STEP THE BUILDING STARTS TO GLOW, THE &¤^=»-,,,,
,,,,,-»=^¤ BRICKS TURNING A DARK RED, AND THEN ¤^=»-,,,,,
,,,,,,-»=^ ORANGE, ALL THE PILED UP DEBREE BEING ^=»-,,,,,,
,,,,,,,-»= LIT FROM BEHIND. =»-,,,,,,,
,,,,,,,,-» »-,,,,,,,,
,,,,,,,-»= I STOP READY TO RUN DOWN AND OUT, BUT =»-,,,,,,,
,,,,,,-»=^ THERE'S SOMEONE ELSE ON THE STAIRCASE ^=»-,,,,,,
,,,,,-»=^¤ WITH ME NOW, PRESSED CLOSE. HE'S ¤^=»-,,,,,
,,,,-»=^¤& LOOKING LIKE ME, SHORT HAIR AND THIN &¤^=»-,,,,
,,,-»=^¤&# ARMS, BUT WITH EARS FROM SOME ANIMAL, #&¤^=»-,,,
,,-»=^¤&## AND MORE DISTURBINGLY, COMPLETELY MADE ##&¤^=»-,,
,-»=^¤&### OF DARK LIQUID GLASS. ###&¤^=»-,
,,-»=^¤&## ##&¤^=»-,,
,,,-»=^¤&# ^^ #&¤^=»-,,,
,,,,-»=^¤& ^^ ^^ &¤^=»-,,,,
,,,,,-»=^¤ »»»»»»» ^ ^ »»»»»»» ¤^=»-,,,,,
,,,,,,-»=^ ^^ ^^ ^=»-,,,,,,
,,,,,,,-»= ^^ =»-,,,,,,,
,,,,,,,,-» »-,,,,,,,,
,,,,,,,-»= MY FEAR HOLDS ME IN PLACE WHILE HE =»-,,,,,,,
,,,,,,-»=^ STARTS OPERATING LEVERS AND DIALS SET ^=»-,,,,,,
,,,,,-»=^¤ IN THE CENTER OF THE STAIRCASE. SLOWLY, ¤^=»-,,,,,
,,,,-»=^¤& IT STARTS SPINNING, CIRCLING UPWARDS. &¤^=»-,,,,
,,,-»=^¤&# IT'S AN ELEVATOR! I START TO RUN #&¤^=»-,,,
,,-»=^¤&## DOWNWARDS, BUT NOW THE LIQUID BOY ##&¤^=»-,,
,-»=^¤&### CREATURE GRABS HOLD OF ME. I TRY TO ###&¤^=»-,
,,-»=^¤&## SHAKE HIM OFF, BUT HE'S TOO STRONG, AND ##&¤^=»-,,
,,,-»=^¤&# PULLS ME BACK UP BESIDE HIM. #&¤^=»-,,,
,,,,-»=^¤& &¤^=»-,,,,
,,,,,-»=^¤ THIS TIME, I TURN ANGRY INSTEAD. WHAT ¤^=»-,,,,,
,,,,,,-»=^ THE HELL? WHO IS THIS GUY, ACTING LIKE ^=»-,,,,,,
,,,,,,,-»= THIS? I REACH OUT MY FREE ARM AND SLAM =»-,,,,,,,
,,,,,,,,-» A RANDOM LEVER. SOME METAL BAR IS »-,,,,,,,,
,,,,,,,-»= SUDDENLY RELEASED BETWEEN US, HITTING =»-,,,,,,,
,,,,,,-»=^ HIM ON THE ARM, FORCING MY RELEASE. I ^=»-,,,,,,
,,,,,-»=^¤ SHOVE HIM OFF OF ME, AND HE FALLS INTO ¤^=»-,,,,,
,,,,-»=^¤& THE LEVERS, MESSING THEM UP. &¤^=»-,,,,
,,,-»=^¤&# IMMEDIATELY, A THIN RUSTY CHAINMAIL #&¤^=»-,,,
,,-»=^¤&## CURTAIN IS DROPPED AROUND ME. BUT THE ##&¤^=»-,,
,-»=^¤&### ELEVATOR ALSO SPEEDS UP SIGNIFICANTLY. ###&¤^=»-,
,,-»=^¤&## ##&¤^=»-,,
,,,-»=^¤&# THE WALLS ARE FLARING NOW, YELLOW, #&¤^=»-,,,
,,,,-»=^¤& WHITE, ALMOST BLUE. I CLOSE MY EYES AND &¤^=»-,,,,
,,,,,-»=^¤ CURL INTO A BALL. BUT THEN, THE GLASS ¤^=»-,,,,,
,,,,,,-»=^ BOY SCREAMS, A PIERCING SOUND THAT ^=»-,,,,,,
,,,,,,,-»= FORCES MY EYES BACK OPEN. I WATCH AS HE =»-,,,,,,,
,,,,,,,,-» BECOMES TOO LIQUID, HIS BODY POOLING »-,,,,,,,,
,,,,,,,-»= DOWN IN HIS NOW MASSIVE TAIL, AND THE =»-,,,,,,,
,,,,,,-»=^ TIP OF IT SUDDENLY BREAKS OF IN A GLASS ^=»-,,,,,,
,,,,,-»=^¤ DROP THAT FALLS TOWARD THE FACTORY ¤^=»-,,,,,
,,,,-»=^¤& FLOOR. &¤^=»-,,,,
,,,-»=^¤&# #&¤^=»-,,,
,,-»=^¤&## HE'S CRAWLING ON THE STAIRS, UNABLE TO ##&¤^=»-,,
,-»=^¤&### KEEP HIS BODY UPRIGHT. CAN'T REACH THE ###&¤^=»-,
,,-»=^¤&## LEVERS, CLAWS AT MY CHAINMAIL CAGE, ##&¤^=»-,,
,,,-»=^¤&# WHILE HIS BODY IS TURNING INTO DARK #&¤^=»-,,,
,,,,-»=^¤& PEARLS. FINALLY, HE'S LOST TOO MUCH OF &¤^=»-,,,,
,,,,,-»=^¤ HIMSELF AND THE SCREAM IS CUT SHORT. ¤^=»-,,,,,
,,,,,,-»=^ THE LAST OF HIM RAINS DOWN. ^=»-,,,,,,
,,,,,,,-»= =»-,,,,,,,
,,,,,,,,-» I STILL CAN'T REACH THE LEVERS FROM »-,,,,,,,,
,,,,,,,-»= WITHIN MY CAGE. LOOKING UP, I TRY TO =»-,,,,,,,
,,,,,,-»=^ MAKE OUT THE CEILING, BUT IT'S ALL A ^=»-,,,,,,
,,,,,-»=^¤ WHIRLING SEA OF COLOURS. BELOW ME GLOWS ¤^=»-,,,,,
,,,,-»=^¤& THE HELLFIRE OF THE FACTORY WALLS, BUT &¤^=»-,,,,
,,,-»=^¤&# VERY FAINT. I SIT DOWN, CURL BACK UP, #&¤^=»-,,,
,,-»=^¤&## BECOME STILL. ##&¤^=»-,,
,-»=^¤&### ###&¤^=»-,
,,-»=^¤&## ^^ ##&¤^=»-,,
,,,-»=^¤&# ^^ ^^ #&¤^=»-,,,
,,,,-»=^¤& »»»»»»» ^ ^ »»»»»»» &¤^=»-,,,,
,,,,,-»=^¤ ^^ ^^ ¤^=»-,,,,,
,,,,,,-»=^ ^^ ^=»-,,,,,,
,,,,,,,-»= =»-,,,,,,,
,,,,,,,,-» A LARGE CLUNK SHAKES MY ENTIRE BODY, »-,,,,,,,,
,,,,,,,-»= AND SNAPS ME BACK INTO REALITY. I'M =»-,,,,,,,
,,,,,,-»=^ BACK AT THE FACTORY FLOOR, BUT THE ^=»-,,,,,,
,,,,,-»=^¤ STAIRS ARE STILL MOVING SLIGHTLY, ¤^=»-,,,,,
,,,,-»=^¤& CLICKING IN PLACE, CARRYING ME THE LAST &¤^=»-,,,,
,,,-»=^¤&# FEW CENTIMETERS. I CAME FROM BELOW, #&¤^=»-,,,
,,-»=^¤&## SOMEHOW. THE CHAINMAIL IS RETRACTED, ##&¤^=»-,,
,-»=^¤&### AND I SLOWLY DISMOUNT THE STAIRS. ###&¤^=»-,
,,-»=^¤&## ##&¤^=»-,,
,,,-»=^¤&# SHAKING AND CRYING, I MAKE MY WAY OVER #&¤^=»-,,,
,,,,-»=^¤& THE FACTORY FLOOR, WADING THROUGH DARK &¤^=»-,,,,
,,,,,-»=^¤ GLASS MARBLES. A QUICK GLANCE DOWN, AND ¤^=»-,,,,,
,,,,,,-»=^ I SEE THERE'S SOMETHING FAINT INSIDE ^=»-,,,,,,
,,,,,,,-»= THEM. EMBRYOS? ARE THESE EGGS? =»-,,,,,,,
,,,,,,,,-» »-,,,,,,,,
,,,,,,,-»= I SHUDDER, AND CLIMB BACK OUT. =»-,,,,,,,
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